-from Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

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1 Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015

2 COMPASSION DEMANDS SOLIDARITY If you would ask the Desert Fathers why solitude gives birth to compassion, they would say, Because it makes us die to our neighbor. At first, this answer seems quite disturbing to a modern mind. But when we give it a closer look we can see that in order to be of service to others we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others. To die to our neighbors means to stop judging them, to stop evaluating them, and thus to become free to be compassionate. Compassion can never coexist with judgment because judgment creates the distance, the distinction, which prevents us from really being with the other. - Henri J. M. Nouwen The Way of the Heart JUDGING OTHERS Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. - Luke 6:37-38 PRAYER Lord, endow us with discernment so that we might recognize the seeds of harshness in our lives. Help us to overcome this harshness with the heart of compassion, seeing then your presence in all human beings. Amen. ADVENT ACTION A follower of Saint Anthony, Abba Moses, gives this instruction: Do not let dislike dominate your heart. Make a short list of those whom you dislike, even surreptitiously. Choose one person to expunge from your negative thoughts. -from Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

3 Scan this QR code with your phone for quick and easy online giving! Giving Tree Our Annual Giving Tree is in the Narthex. Please bring back the requested item, unwrapped and with ornament attached, to the church by the deadline stated on the ornament. The Giving Tree project helps many social organizations, such as CCSC, Catholic Charities, Casa Juan Diego, and Magnificat House, as well as other families in our community. What a beautiful way to share the many gifts we have received throughout the year Gala Preparations are beginning for next year s Gala fundraiser! We would like to invite all parishioners to come on Wednesday, December 9, at 7 pm to meet with the Gala committees in the Pastoral Center (former Rectory). Please RSVP to Kurt - k.kleeman@sttheresa.cc or Enrique e.benitez@sttheresa.cc Please note: Tuesday, December 8, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be celebrated at 7 am, 12:10 pm, and 6:30 pm.

4 Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Estan cordialmente invitados a formar parte de la festividad a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. La celebracion empezara desde el Viernes, 4 de Diciembre, con una Novena en su honor. Nos estaremos reuniendo aqui en la iglesia a las 7:00 pm para rezar esta devocion. El Sabado, 12 de Diciembre, iniciaremos a las 5:30 am con una procesion alrededor de la iglesia y continuaremos con el Santo Rosario a las 6:30 am seguido por la Santa Misa a las 7:00 am. Despues de la Misa habra una pequeño convivio en el Fellowship Hall. Los esperamos! You are cordially invited to take part in the Feast of Our Lady of Gudalupe. The celebration begins on Friday, December 4, and continues each evening with a Novena in her honor. We will meet in the church at 7 pm to pray this devotion. On Saturday, December 12, we will begin at 5:30 am with Las Mañanitas an outdoor procession with Our Lady accompanied by mariachis. Rosary will begin at 6:30 am in the church, followed by Mass in Spanish at 7 am. After the Mass, we will have a small reception in the Fellowship Hall. Hope to see you there! Hear Stephen Binz at St. Laurence Dec. 14 Usher in the Year of Mercy with an evening of reflection on The Door of Mercy: Crossing the Threshold in the Holy Year of Mercy featuring renowned author and speaker, Stephen J. Binz. St. Laurence Catholic Church is sponsoring this inspirational evening as part of their popular Adult Faith Formation Speaker Series. Located at 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, in Sugar Land, the event will take place on Monday, December 14, at 7:00 pm, in the parish hall. There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is requested at

Dear Parishioners, We are inviting you to partner with us in our renewed and vibrant school annual fund which has been renamed: Fund the Mission of St.

Fund the Mission of St. Theresa is a wonderful opportunity to generously utilize our gifts to grow and fulfill our mission in this loving community through faith, service and knowledge.

6 Dear Parishioners, We are inviting you to partner with us in our renewed and vibrant school annual fund which has been renamed: Fund the Mission of St. Theresa The fund keeps the school mission alive and thriving. It provides the necessary means to help us move forward providing and maintaining the best tools and programs available to our students. Fund the Mission of St. Theresa is a wonderful opportunity to generously utilize our gifts to grow and fulfill our mission in this loving community through faith, service and knowledge. For more information or online contributions please visit: If you need more information information; please contact Enrique Benitez or Kurt Kleeman at or e.benitez@sttheresa.cc / k.kleeman@sttheresa.cc.

7 Advent Service Project Join us for hot cocoa and festive music while bringing the Light of Christ to children in need. We ll be making little worry dolls that come with a special message of hope and peace to give to children living in shelters. All ages are welcome! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Sunday, December 20, at 11:15 am in the Fellowship Hall. If you would like to submit an announcement for our bulletin, please send it to: bulletin@sttheresa.cc.

at St. Theresa s, November 5; Kelly Woods and Joshua Flores who were married at Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, November 14; Kristen Flowers and John Meier who were married at St.

8 Congratulations! Meghan O Donnell and Eric Craney who were married at St. Vincent de Paul in Houston, October 24; Cassandra Henry and Brett Baptist who were married at Duchesne Academy Chapel in Houston, October 31; Allison Gates and Timothy Krysiek who were married here at St. Theresa s, November 5; Kelly Woods and Joshua Flores who were married at Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, November 14; Kristen Flowers and John Meier who were married at St. Laurence in Houston, November 21; Sarah Rye Furlin and Michael Redmond Cavanaugh who were married at Oak Tree Manor in Houston on November 21; Miriam Mercedes Sanchez and Chris Andres Sabillon who were married at San Vicente de Paul Parish, San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras, November 2. Please keep our newlyweds in your prayers. Happy Feast of St. Nicholas! Houston Police For Emergency/Life Threatening Calls: 911 Non-Emergency Calls: Domestic Violence The Bridge Over Troubled Waters 24 Hour Hotline: Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) HELPFUL NUMBERS Counseling (Grief, Family, etc.) Catholic Charities: Families of Addicts Al-Anon Family Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

If you are interested in advertising in our bulletin, please contact Kathy

TATUM & MONTGOMERY, CPAs 4545 Post Oak Place, Ste.

9 If you are interested in advertising in our bulletin, please contact Kathy Corbett at Thank you for your support! TATUM & MONTGOMERY, CPAs 4545 Post Oak Place, Ste. 300 Serving Small Businesses and Individuals since 1976 Henry Nguyen, C.P.A Anne E. Kennedy Attorney at Law Immigration Family Law Criminal Law Civil Law Se habla español DIANA CADIEUX, REALTOR (281) You will be my top priority! Hableme si busca casa. 539 Heights Blvd. Houston, TX phone cell aek-law.com

7569 araburn@marthaturner.com Sacraments Baptism Contact Ginger Tamborello or visit our website for more information.

10 Nifty Cleaners 5901 Washington Ave If you are interested in advertising in our bulletin, please contact Kathy Corbett at Thank you for your support! Annie and Doug Raburn Selling bungalows to mansions in and around Houston for the last 20 years Sacraments Baptism Contact Ginger Tamborello or visit our website for more information. First Communion & Reconciliation Contact Terra Herce or visit our website for more information. Matrimony Application for Annulment Contact Patrick Miral or visit our website for more information. Confirmation Contact Ginger Tamborello or visit our website for more information. Reconciliation Saturday 4 pm-5 pm Thursday 5:30 pm-6:15 pm

11 This Week Monday, December 7 7:00 am Mass 6:30 pm Meditation Prayer Group, Mary Chapel 7:00 pm First Reconciliation Parent Meeting, FH 7:00 pm Book Club, Brides Room 7:00 pm Novena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Church Tuesday, December 8 Immaculate Conception 7:00 am Mass 12:10 pm Mass 6:30 pm Mass 6:30 pm Women s Encounter, Brides Room 7:00 pm Novena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, FH 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Church Choir Loft Wednesday, December 9 7:00 am Mass 7:00 pm Spanish Prayer Group, Brides Room 7:00 pm Legión de María, Sacristy 7:00 pm Novena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Church 7:00 pm Godparent class, Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Gala meeting, Pastoral Center 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Church 8:15 pm Men s AA, Fellowship Hall Thursday, December 10 7:00 am Mass 7:30 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 5:30 pm Reconciliation 6:30 pm Mass 7:00 pm Novena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Church 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Church 7:30 pm Men s Encounter, FH Board Room Friday, December 11 7:45 am Rosary for Peace and Respect for Life 8:00 am Mass 7:00 pm Novena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Church Saturday, December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe 5:30 am Las Mañanitas, Our Lady of Guadalupe 6:30 am Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Church 7:00 am Mass in Spanish 4:00 pm Reconciliation 5:30 pm Mass Sunday, December 13 8:00 am Mass 8:30 am RCIA, Fellowship Hall 10:00 am Mass 11:15 am Adult Ed, FH Lounge 11:30 am Mass in Spanish 5:30 pm Mass Rosary for Peace and Respect for Life December 11 & 18 Joe Tusa Mass Intentions Saturday, December 5 5:30 PM Ike & Louise Gorski Pete & Vera Morello Sunday, December 6 8:00 AM Patricia Grizzaffi 10:00 AM Pro-Populo (Parishioners) 11:30 AM Stevenson Family Mulvilhill Family 5:30 PM Joe Loria Jr. Fr. John Robbins Monday, December 7 7:00 AM John T. Bravenec Tuesday, December 8 7:00 AM Scott & Zoe Carthew (L) 12:10 PM Pamela J. Raymond 6:30 PM Reta Mitro Wednesday, December 9 7:00 AM Johnnie Sicola Sr. Thursday, December 10 7:00 AM John Burns Marty Burns 6:30 PM Michelle Marks Friday, December 11 7:00 AM Sophie Krenek Saturday, December 12 5:30 PM Rose Ragusa Sunday, December 13 8:00 AM Helen Smith 10:00 AM Pro-Populo (Parishioners) 11:30 AM Stevenson Family Mulvilhill Family 5:30 PM Gary Tindol Fr. John Robbins *For Mass intentions, contact Deandra in the church office. Next Week s Reader and EMHC Schedule Saturday, December 12 5:30 pm (Team 1) Dwight Coles Anne Coles Sunday, December 13 8:00 am (Team 3) Jack Barnett Suzanne Clevenger 10:00 am (Team 2) Blanche D Souza Dan Ramsier 5:30 pm (Team 2) Ann Bixby Betty Bixby

12 Haskell, Houston, TX Phone: Fax: Pastor: Fr. Phil Lloyd, ext. 312 Deacons Deacon Larry Vaclavik Deacon Francis Tse Deacon Bill Wilson SCHOOL STAFF Principal Melissa Ilski ext. 320 Dean of Students Carman West, ext. 317 Administrative Assistant Rhonda Lastovica, ext. 321 Advancement Director, Church & School Kurt Kleeman, ext. 314 PARISH RESOURCES AND STAFF Development Enrique Benitez, ext. 315 Pastoral Associate Patrick Miral, ext. 310 Pastoral Manager /Director of Music and Liturgy Kathy Corbett, ext. 311 Finance Manager, Church and School Cherie Hernandez, ext. 305 Church and School Finance Lidia Chapple, ext. 333 Yen Fite, ext. 329 Johanna Bransford, ext. 309 Director of Adult Education / Hospitality Ginger Tamborello, ext. 306 g.tamborello@sttheresa.cc Faith Formation / Student Ministry Adrian Leal, ext. 308 youthministry@sttheresa.cc Faith Formation / Elementary Terra Herce, ext. 308 t.herce@sttheresa.cc Early Childhood Center Director Cindy Clements, ext. 338 c.clements@sttheresa.cc Receptionist/Clerical Assistant Deandra Mackey, ext. 301 d.mackey@sttheresa.cc Maintenance Supervisor Andras Bandi, ext. 302 andras.bandi@sttheresa.cc Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:30 pm Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am (Spanish), 5:30 pm Daily Mass: Monday through Friday at 7 am, Thursday at 6:30 pm Holy Day Masses: 7 am, 12:10 pm, & 6:30 pm

Wishing you many Blessings, Melissa Ilski Principal, St. Theresa Catholic School

Wishing you many Blessings, Melissa Ilski Principal, St. Theresa Catholic School Exploring the Future Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time January 31, 2016 Dearest Friends and Parishioners, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States.